Area of Rectangles

Area of a Rectangle

To find the area of a rectangle, use the fact that area measures the number of square units covering the inside of the shape. For a rectangle, this comes from multiplying the length by the width.

Method

1. Identify the two side lengths that meet at a corner.
2. Multiply those two measurements.
3. Write the answer with square units if units are given.
4. Simplify the final result if needed.

Example structure

If a rectangle has one side of 6 units and the adjacent side of 4 units, the area is:

6 × 4 = 24

So the area is 24 square units.

How to check your work

• Make sure you used the two perpendicular sides, not a diagonal.
• Check that your multiplication is correct.
• If the answer includes an expression, simplify it fully.
• The result should always be in square units when working with measurements.

Common mistake to avoid

Do not add the side lengths. Area is found by multiplication, not addition.

Using the same method every time will help you solve rectangle area problems accurately and efficiently.